The year before, a well-known agent received a call from a 770 number. general manager of the Atlanta Braves, was the person on the other end. He wanted to know something about one of the agent’s clients. The agent found this incredibly intriguing, not because the Braves were fond of the guy but because he was playing for a new team in August, two and a half months before he would be available for free agency. He had never seen a general manager so blatantly disregard the rules against tampering.
Throughout his career contempt for rules drove his ascent and sped up his decline; however, it appears that his career came to an end on Monday when he resigned amid a Major League Baseball investigation into possible violations involving domestic and international amateurs as well as allegations of tampering, sources told Yahoo Sports. Colleagues laughed at when he became the leader of a well-known organization, going against the industry standard of “be seen, not heard” and relying on friendly media relationships to boost his public image. Insiders claim that throughout his tenure as general manager of the Braves, internal conflict grew until it erupted out of control when he was the subject of unidentified accusations that sparked an investigation and finally forced his retirement.
Sources claim that MLB’s investigation has recently concentrated on the bundling of international amateur signing incentives in order to get around expenditure limitations, even if the long-term repercussions of actions are still unknown. One person with knowledge of the Braves’ plan claimed that it was “far greater” than the Boston Red Sox’s 2015–16 signing period plan, despite the fact that the specifics of the plan are yet unclear. To get around rules limiting them to signing players for a maximum $300,000 incentive, Boston played for incentives on lower-rated players represented by the same buskin, or trainer, of higher-rated players, to whom extra money was provided. After the five players signed as part of the scheme became designated free agents, the Red Sox were barred from signing any foreign players for a full year.
Rumor has it that the Braves’ issues might extend much beyond. The signing of 17-year-old shortstop Kevin Maiten, a promising prospect who received a $4.25 million bonus the previous season, is still under investigation. Several reports suggest that if anomalies surrounding his signing are discovered, Maiten might also be declared a free agent.
The chaos that sowed during his tenure was mixed with palace intrigue, according to multiple Braves employees and others familiar with the investigation. This has left the organization in flux despite possessing what is arguably the best minor league system in baseball.
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